News and Events Archives

Something to Smile About….The Generosity of Dental Hygienists
	I want to thank each dental hygienist who took the time and effort to bring toothbrushes, dental floss and toothpaste to benefit homeless Haitians now living here in Chicago. Oral health, as we already know, is vital to total body health. But, it is also a part of regular life and personal care that add normalcy to an otherwise chaotic turn of events.
At the March NSDHS Seminar, more than 500 toothbrushes, 500 tubes of toothpaste, and 250 containers of floss were donated by the dental hygienists who attended. These outstanding gifts are going to A Safe Haven. A Safe Haven describes itself as a Social Economic Model providing and coordinating supportive recovery housing, treatment, affordable housing, job training and job placement services. Their services are available to the homeless and/or people recovering from the disease of alcoholism and drug addiction. They assist all, with open arms, when no one else can or will. This year, after the tragic earthquake in Haiti, they welcomed over 250 Haitian refugees in need of the most basic human needs. Thank you all for your generosity and for making the life a stranger brighter. Sara Hallowell, RDH, BS Corresponding Secretary, NSDHS
NSDHS Thanks You for a Successful Food Drive!
Thank you to all for your generous support of our annual food drive. We were able to collect over 100 food items that are being donated to the Northfield Township Food pantry that provides items to 565 households in our communities. Again,thank you very much and we look forward to doing this again next year! Ashley Angelo and Linda Argeros Community Service co-chairs

February Was National Childrens' Dental Health Month Presentation Kits Still Available
	National Childrens' Dental Health Month began as a one-day event in Cleveland, Ohio on Feb. 3, 1941. The American Dental Association held the first national observance of Childrens' Dental Health Day on Feb. 8, 1949. This single day observance became a week-long event in 1955, and in 1981 the program was extended to a month-long celebration known today as National Childrens' Dental Health Month. NSDHS took great pride in celebrating National Childrens' Dental Health Month during the month of February. We are here to help you help your community. We have dental health presentation kits that include videos, pamphlets, posters, coloring pages and puppets. These supplies can be checked out for short periods of time to help you give presentations to schools, scouts, libraries, community centers or senior centers.
As a registered dental hygienist we have all taken the Dental Hygiene Oath which states “In my practice as a dental hygienist, I affirm my personal and professional commitment to improve the oral health of the public”. I believe it is our responsibility to share the incredible gift of our education with our communities. So I am here to help. Please contact me to check out our presentations kits or if you need help giving any presentations. My email address is sonia815@aol.com. Sonia Kerr, RDH Dental Health North Suburban Dental Hygienists’ Society

	Congratulations to NSDHS Past President, Jill Gauss who was chosen to write a profile article in the November issue of Access Magazine.  Access magazine is published by the ADHA. To read Jill's article, check out Page 52 in the magazine or click here.

ADHA Podcasts...Your Professional Connection to Hygiene

ADHA and Colgate are pleased to announce a new partnership designed for you, the busy dental hygiene professional and student.  Introducing timely topics featuring clinical and professional development themes you can use anywhere!  These 15-20 minute Podcasts can be downloaded to your MP3 player (such as an iPod) or they can be streamed live to your desktop.  The second Podcast, " Fostering Growth in Dental Hygiene Through Professional Roles " is available now for free download.  To access this new and innovative learning tool log onto the Member section of www.adha.org, click on the "Member Resources" tab, and scroll down to "Resources."

NSDHS Member Melissa Majchrowski, RDH on Wheel of Fortune!
	Congratulations to NSDHS' own Melissa Majchrowski who was a contestant on Wheel of Fortune, on ABC TV CHANNEL 7, October 6, 2008!

Harper College Dental Hygiene Class of 2009 Makes History Harper College Dental Hygiene graduating class of 2009 will go down in the history books. It is the first time in Harper College history that all of the students scored higher than the national average on the National Board of Dental Hygiene Exam in all 13 categories. Eight students scored above 90% on the exam. One student scored a 99%. We are so very proud of the graduates and welcome them to their new profession. We look forward to seeing them in the fall at the September 16 North Suburban Dental Hygienists’ Society seminar. We are here to help and support you throughout your new career!

	Congratulations Harper College Dental Hygiene Class of 2007 Graduatates!

	Thank you NSDHS 2006-2007 Board for all your contributions!
Pictured Back Row left to right: Lee Frank, Florcy Lombos, Dona Gabzdyl, Gina Strelecki, Donna Michalek, Kathy Ciecko-Barnum, Sonia Kerr, Kym Dallstream, Laura Burke Front Row: Bonnie Lyons, Amanda Reneau, Jill Gauss, Kimmy Yaras, Deb Owens, Michelle Suprinski, Kathy Herrmann

New CDT Codes

The new 2007 CDT codes that have an impact on dental hygiene are as follows:

Clinical Oral Evaluations
D0145 oral evaluation for a patient under three years of age and counseling with primary caregiver
Diagnostic and preventive services performed for a child under the age of three, preferably within the first six months of the eruption of the first primary tooth, including recording the oral and physical health history, evaluation of caries susceptibility, development of an appropriate preventive oral health regimen and communication with and counseling of the child’s parent, legal guardian and/or primary caregiver.

Topical Fluoride Treatment (Office Procedures)
D1206 topical fluoride varnish; therapeutic application for moderate to high caries
risk patients
Application of topical fluoride varnish, delivered in a single visit and involving the entire oral cavity.  Not to be used for desensitization.

Radiographs/Diagnostic Imaging (Including Interpretation)
D0273 bitwings-three films

These are only a few new codes.  To obtain a complete listing of all codes with additional changes, have your office order an updated CDT book 2007-2008 or go to the ADA website www.ada.org for more information.

	May 2, 2007 Guest Speaker Karla Walter's highlights and lecture notes - CLICK HERE

NSDHS Celebrates 40th Anniversary

The North Suburban Dental Hygienists’ Society was chartered by the Illinois Dental Hygienists’ Association in 1966, being the first component in the state of Illinois. The celebration of their 40th Anniversary was at the October 18, 2006, component meeting. Of the thirty-four NSDHS Presidents who served in the 40-year history, the twenty- three NSDHS Past Presidents who were able to attend were recognized. Seven IDHA Past Presidents, all who were members of NSDHS, were also recognized.

Laura Burke, NSDHS Immediate Past President and Chair of the 40th Anniversary Celebration, presented a short history of ADHA and IDHA.  She then read a portion of an article written by Anne Guignon, which appeared in the January 2006 issue of RDH Magazine.

Irene Newman wrote a fictitious letter to her cousin, Dr. Alfred Fones.  The letter discussed the changes in our dental hygiene profession since the 1920’s.  During a portion of the program, Laura donned her white dental hygiene cap with the purple stripe.  While many laughed in remembrance of the “good old days,” the newer dental hygienists weren’t quite sure what to think about this awkward hat.  Laura talked about belt-driven hand pieces, making your own pumice, along with the many changes in the profession and the new directions that will be available to our profession in the future.  Total attendance that evening numbered ninety-eight.  Many of the NSDHS Presidents from the 1970’s had not seen each other in nearly 30 years.  It was a wonderful evening.

The NSDHS Presidents attending the celebration included (years served are listed after their name): Christina Newkirk (1971-1972), Patricia Avigliano Reese (1972-1973), Dorothy Parise (1974-1975), Nancy Lynn (1979-1980), Noel Angerame (1980-1981), Mary Beth Fleischhauer (1981-1982), Jane McGinley (1982-1983), Jan Dykstra (1983-1984), Pam Brunk (1984-1985), Geralynn Huffman (1985-1986), Wendy Mineau (1987-1988), Bonnie Klos (1989-1990), Bonnie Lyons (1990-1991), Laura Hennessey Aguilar (1991-1992), Marcia Swanson Schattauer (1992-1993), Susan Kopij (1993-1994), Lori Murphy Remiker (1996-1997), Michelle Browder (1997-1998), Dona Schulz Gabzdyl (2000-2001), Gina Strelecki (2001-2003), Joyce Aguinaldo Grubb (2003-2004), Laura Burke (2004-2006), and Jill Gauss (2006-2007). Sadly, two past presidents are deceased: Olof Egilsson (1968-1969) passed away on March 14, 2006 and Carin Kofron  (1986-1987) passed away on May 30, 2006. 

The IDHA Past Presidents attending included: Diane Rannin (1969-1970), Loretta Purcell (1970-1971), Christina Newkirk (1973-1974), Nancy Lynn (1982-1983), Jane McGinley (1983-1984), Mary Beth Fleischhauer (1985-1986), and Gina Strelecki (2003-2005).

NSDHS congratulates member Donna Grzegorek!

Press release from the Award of Distinction - Under One Roof - Mon, 20 Aug 2007
Donna Grzegorek, RDH Wins the GUM® Healthy Gums Healthy Life®/RDH Award of Distinction

Barrington  IL (August 20, 2007) – Local resident Donna Grzegorek, RDH was one of eight dental hygienists from across the United States who has been honored with the 2007 GUM® Healthy Gums Healthy Life®/RDH Award of Distinction.   The awards are co-sponsored by RDH Magazine, the leading professional publication for registered dental hygienists, and Sunstar, manufacturer of the GUM® brand of dental products and a leader in advanced oral care products for professionals and consumers worldwide. Since 2002, the Award of Distinction has been awarded to 40 dental hygienists in the United States.

Ms. Grzegorek and the seven other recipients were honored for the role they play in helping patients lead healthier lives, their achievements within the dental profession and their dedication to public service within the communities in which they live and work. They also met the following specific award requirements:

• Made special efforts to help their patients live healthier lives through better oral care
• Provided outstanding patient counseling to improve oral hygiene home care compliance
• Contributed to their community and the dental hygiene profession

Nomination ballots were reviewed by a panel of independent judges, who made the final selection. “I am very honored to have been selected as one of the winners of the Award of Distinction,” said Grzegorek. “The dental hygienist is the gatekeeper of the oral cavity.  We have an amazing opportunity, yet a tremendous responsibility to educate our patient’s about the importance of systemic wellness through meticulous oral health.  Gone are the days we just save teeth, now we save lives!  Although only eight winners are chosen, I believe all hygienists are dedicated to helping their patients live healthier lives through better oral care.”
 
In addition to practicing dental hygiene full time for Dr. Gregory S. Tehle in Barrington, Grzegorek is a speaker for the Academy of General Dentistry, COO of Innovative Dental Professionals; Dr. John Napolitano in Barrington, a hygiene educator for two dental pharmaceutical companies and a mentor to fellow hygienists. 
 
Grzegorek has also set a Guinness World Record for the most number of people flossing on a single strand of dental floss.  Grzegorek raised awareness about the importance of oral health, to 297 enthusiastic teen flossers using 1500 feet of dental floss.

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NSDHS congratulates Donna Grzegorek who receives Award of Distinction!

Five years ago, Sunstar Butler created a prestigious award to recognize the amazing contributions of grassroots hygienists.  Aptly called the Award of Distinction, Sunstar in conjunction with RDH Magazine, recognizes eight dental hygienists nationally, who achieve high levels of excellence and help patients lead healthier lives with their approaches to patient education, compliance with oral health regiments and community health.  Sunstar and RDH Magazine know that each year's Award of Distinction recipients do more than clock in and clock out every day.  Their passion for the profession leaps off every page of their award application. May 10th,  Donna Grzegorek a member of NSDHS was contacted  by Dennis Roy, Director of Professional Marketing Sunstar Americas Inc. who informed her that she was selected to be one of the eight recipients

 

of the 2007 RDH Award of Distinction.  Donna will be flown to Washington D.C. to attend the RDH Under One Roof Conference July 31st to August 4th.  After a "spa day", she will enjoy attendance at the conference, networking reception, award ceremony, amongst other planned activities.  Donna will be featured on the cover of the September issue of RDH Magazine and in related articles to follow. 

 

We congratulate one of our own... Donna Grzegorek!

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Congratulations to Donna Grzegorek, Finalist:
"Breath Rx Hygienist of the Year"

Congratulations to Donna Grzegorek who was selected as one of five finalists to go to Los Angeles and celebrated by Discus Dental and Modern Hygienist magazine as the "Breath Rx Hygienist of the Year."

Donna received the royal treatment by being shuttled by limousine and a Rolls Royce, dining at The Ivy and Spago's, staying at the well-known Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel where she was greeted by the media, cameras, roses, and champagne. According to Donna, "It was a trip of a lifetime with four other hygienists I will forever call my friends."

As one of only five dental hygienist finalists in the country, Donna expressed pride in being an active member of ADHA, IDHA, and NSDHS. Three of the five finalists across the nation were from Illinois!

Donna is featured in Modern Hygienist magazine covering this event. You can read about these five finalists along with their biographies.

On behalf of NSHDS, we congratulate Donna for her well-deserved recognition!

 

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